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Its Never Too Early to Think About Next Christmas

With the holidays upon us you may find yourself wondering how to better manage your finances for the next big holiday season. We’ve got a few quick and easy, sensible ideas for planning ahead — starting now!

1) Set aside money, beginning this month.
You could set up a savings account specifically for holiday spending, and direct just a few dollars into it for every paycheck you get. Over the course of the year, even a small amount will add up — and the amount you’ve saved can be an easy, straightforward budget for holiday spending at the end of the year.

Don’t want to set up a special account? Use more cash for your everyday purchases. You’ll likely spend less than you normally would on day-to-day impulse buys — and you’ll have change to stick in a jar at the end of each day, for holiday spending later.

2) Use your credit card. This may sound counter-intuitive, but if you use a rewards credit card for all your daily purchases, you’ll earn points back that you can use for cash or purchases. Horizon Bank offers the Visa Bonus Rewards card, and some of your favorite retailers have their own cards that you can use for purchase savings later.

Just remember: Don’t use your credit card for more than you can afford, or you won’t end up with any financial advantage. Instead, plan to use it regularly and pay it off each month. When done properly, this can be a great way to help stick to a set budget.

3) Out with the old. You just bought the family all-new toys, clothes, and gadgets, so get rid of what you no longer need. Sell some things on Craigslist or a local Facebook page, or hold a garage sale in the summer, and set aside your earnings for future holiday spending. Bonus: You’ll get rid of unwanted clutter around the house!

A few simple steps now can go a long way toward making your next holiday season merry, bright, and less stressful!